The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-14
Mrs. Lincoln's Insanity.
THE CURIOUS ACTIONS OF THE WIFE OF
THE GREAT WAR PRESIDENT.
General Badeau in New York World

On the goth of March distinguish.
ed parry from Washington joined
them, among whom | remember espec-
tally Mr.. Geoffroi, TIE French Minister.
1t was proposed that an excursion
should be made to the front of the
Army of the Potomac, about ten or
twelve miles away, and Mrs. Lincoln
and Mrs. Grant were of the company.
There was a military railroad which
took the illustrious guests a great por-
tion of the way and then the men were
mounted, but Mrs. Grant and Mrs.
Lincoln went on in au ambulance, az
1t was called-a sort of half open car
riage with two seats, besides that for
the driver. | was detailed to escort
them and of course sat on the front
seat facing the ladies, with my back
to the horses.
In the course of conversation / men
toned that all the wives of officers at
the army front had been ordered to the
rear-a sure sign that active operations
were in contemplation. | said not a
lady had been allowed to remain ex
cept Mrs. Griffin, the wife of General
Charles Griffin, who had obtained a
special permission from the President.
At this Mrs Lincoln was up in arms
"What do you mean by that, sir ?" she
exclaimed. "Do you mean to say that
she saw the President alone? Do you
know that | never allow the President
to see any woman alore?" She was
absolutely jealous of poor, ugly Abra-
ham Lincoln. l tried to pacify her
and to palliate my remark, but she was
fairly boiling over with rage. "That's
very equivocal smile, sir, she exclaim-
ed. "Let me out of this carriage at
once. l will ask the President if he
saw that woman alone" Mrs. Griffin
was one of the best known and most
elegant women in Washington, after
ards the Cunt, So E,terhazy, Car
roll and a personal acquaintance Of
Mrs. Grant, who strove to molliiy the
excited spouse, but IN vain. Mrs. Lin
coin again bade me stop the driver, and
when l hesitaLed to obey she thrust
her arms past me to the front of tn
carriage aud held the driver fast. But
Mrs. Grant finally prevailed on her t.
wait till the whole party allghted, aud
then General Meade came up to pay hi.
respects to the wife of the President
l had intended to offer Mrs. Lincoln
my arm and endeavor to prevent 9
scene, but Meade, of course, as my su.
perior, had the right to escort her, and
| had no chance to warn him. saw
them go off together and remained in
fear and trembling for what nigh,
occur in the pr. sence of the foreigr
Minister and other important strangers
But General NJ ade was very adrol,
and when they returned Mrs. Lincoln
looked at me significantly and said
General Meade is a gentleman, sir
He says it was not the President who
gave Mrs. Griffin the permit but, the
Secretary of War" Meade was the
son of a diplomatist and had evidently
inherited some of his fathers skill.
At night when we were back in
camp, Mrs Grant talked over the mat
ter with me and said the whole affair
was so distressing and mortifying that
we must never either mention it to any
one; at least was to be absolutely ii
lent and she would disclose it only to
the General. But the next day / was
released from my pledge, for ""orse
remained behind"
The same party went in the morn.
ing to visit the Army of the James on
the north side of the river, commanded
by General Ord. The arrangements
were somewhat similar to those of the
day befnre We went up tie river il
a steamer and then the men again took
horses aud Mrs. Lincoln aud Mrs
Grant went in an ambulance. | wai
detailed as before TO act as escort, bu
| asked for a companion in the duty
for after my experience of the prevlou,
day | did not wish to be the only Off
Ger in the carriage So Genera
Horace Porter was ordered to joia
the party. Mrs. Ord was with her hus
band. As she was the wife of the
commander of an army she was MOI
subject to the order for return, though
before that day was over she wished
herself in Washington or anywher,
else away from the army, | am sure
She was mounted, and az the ambu
lance was full, she remained on hel
horse and rode for awhile by the sid,
of the President aud ahead of Mrs
Lincoln.
As soon as Mrs. Lincoln discovered
this her rage was beyond all bounds
"What does the woman mean,' she eY.
claimed shy riding by the side of the
President and ahead of me? Doe,
she suppose that he wants her by the
side of him ?" She was in frenzy oi
excitement, and language aud action
both became more extravagant every
moment. Mrs. GRAFT again endeavor.
ed to pacify her, but then Mrs. Lncolr
got angry with Mrs. Grant, and al
that Porter and | could do was to SEE
that nothing worse than words occur
red We feared that she might jump
out OF the vehicle aud shout to the
cavalcade. Once she said TO Mrs.
Grant in her transports: "l suppose
you think you'll get to the White
House yourself, don't you!' Mrs
Grant was very calm and dguifed
and merely replied that she was quite
satisfied with her present position il
was far greater than she had ever ex.
pected to attain, Then Mrs. Liuoolu
exclaimed: "Oh ! you had better take
it if you can get il. IT'S very nice.
Then she returned TO Mrs. Ord, but
Mrs. Grant defended her friend at the
risk Of arousing greater vehemence.
Finally the party arrived at its desti-
nation, aud Mrs. Ord came up to the
Then Mrs. Lincoln posi-
lively insulted her, called her vile
lanes ia The presence of a crowd of
officers, aud asked what she meant by
up the President. The poor
woman burst into tears aud inquired
what she had Done, but Mrs. Lincoln